# What's the deal with Red Baron pizza? Why is a German who killed people the mascot of a pizza company? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [February 26, 2021, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789 "2021-02-26T09:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/101 "2021-02-27T15:24:10Z")
When I lived in Lancaster, I liked going to Barone’s Pizza. (It’s still there, since 1959.) They called their calzones ‘Barons’. At the time, they had the Baron and the Big Baron. Now they’re the Original Baron and the Deluxe Baron. No sign of the Red Baron, though. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/102 "2021-02-27T15:48:58Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The only frozen pizzas I’ll have in the freezer are Red Baron, CPK and of all things, the Albertson’s store brand (Signature). Yeah, if I’m buying frozen pizza, it’s high-end or extreme low-end. At the high end, CPK and “Culinary Circle,” a generic brand that I’ve found to be very high quality. At the low end, Totino’s Party Pizza, which is probably at or very near the very bottom of the barrel. I love them, but they’ve been more or less the same price for the last 25 years, at least. How is that possible?! ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/103 "2021-02-27T17:11:49Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > Probably the _majority_ of “Mongolian grill” restaurants (which serve a style of food no one in Mongolia has ever heard of, but anyway) are named after Genghis Khan, despite his prolific record of murder and rape. Yeah, marketing: Beijing BBQ was a little too politically sensitive. How can we tone down the image a bit? > Mongolian barbecue was created by the Taiwanese comedian and restaurateur [Wu Zhaonan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zhaonan). A native of [Beijing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing), Wu fled to Taiwan because of the [Chinese Civil War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Civil_War), and opened a [street food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_food) stall in [Yingqiao](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yingqiao&action=edit&redlink=1) [[zh](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%9E%A2%E6%A9%8B)], [Taipei](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei) in 1951.[[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_barbecue#cite_note-chang-1)[[2]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_barbecue#cite_note-genghis-2) He originally wanted to call the dish “Beijing barbecue”, but because of political sensitivity with the city, which had just recently been designated as the capital of Communist China, he settled with “Mongolian barbecue” instead, even though it had no direct connection to Mongolia.[[5]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_barbecue#cite_note-:1-5) [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_barbecue) > [@silenus](#): > > The only frozen pizzas I’ll have in the freezer are Red Baron, CPK and of all things, the Albertson’s store brand (Signature). I think Albertson’s and Tom Thumb got joined, didn’t they? IIRC I was looking at a Tom Thumb flyer (on line) and couldn’t find what I wanted. I checked an Albertson’s flyer and…it was the same flyer. On the back of my card, it says Simon David and Randalls, which I guess are also part of that team. I was out in Seattle at a QFC supermarket and although the back of my (very old) Kroger card, doesn’t list QFC, we got the discount. I really like Milton’s frozen cauliflower crust. We got a 2 pack at Costco but I think they’re available elsewhere. The crust was crunchy, about like crunching the fried variety of cheetos—they show a a hand with the piece bending in the hand on the package, which is weird. > [@DCnDC](#): > > Totino’s Party Pizza, which is probably at or very near the very bottom of the barrel. I love them, but they’ve been more or less the same price for the last 25 years, at least. How is that possible?! The crust on those is really good for the price point. [Things that end up in frozen foods that we’d rather not think about but probably won’t hurt you.](https://fox5sandiego.com/news/health/bugs-rodent-hair-and-poop-how-much-is-legally-allowed-in-the-food-you-eat-every-day/) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/104 "2021-02-27T17:25:28Z")
> [@ZosterSandstorm](#): > > [ with the possible exception of something like “Slavery Pizza” Now I’m picturing someone determined to be as deliberately trollish as possible marketing “Plantation Pizza” with the tagline “made by slaves”. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/105 "2021-02-27T19:14:55Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Pancho Steinberg? Are you from Platteville, WI? The is (or at least was) one there. I don’t think I ever ate there when I was at UW-Platteville, but I certainly remember it. Indeed! Wow, someone else knows it! We loved that place. Had the best video games, good tacos. But, it was not on the prime Coke/Pepsi distributor list. it had Like cola, which is an apt name. It was sort of like cola. (I mistyped - I was in P-ville from 80-85, not the 90s. I think it opened in 82 maybe. Do you remember Pickle Barrel? Man I miss both those places!) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/106 "2021-02-27T19:38:43Z")
I graduated May 1990. I remember Pickle Barrel. I head down the for Plattecon every year (well not this year), had pizza from Steve’s last year (not as greasy as I remember) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/107 "2021-02-27T20:18:48Z")
Who says advertising doesn’t work? Might not have bought as many frozen pizzas if their slogan was a less sultry voice saying _”You thought this was the end. But the Baron cried out, ‘Merry Christmas, my friend.’”_ ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/108 "2021-02-27T21:11:14Z")
There was legitimately an energy drink called “Cocaine” and the logo looked like lines of coke formed into words. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/109 "2021-02-27T21:12:36Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I graduated May 1990. I remember Pickle Barrel. Who knew there’d be another P’viller here? I have a hard time even getting people to understand where I went to school, “The University of Wisconsin? In Madison! I know where that is!” No, the university system. Platteville. “is that outside Milwaukee?” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/110 "2021-02-28T16:13:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > But it’s not the only case of associating pizza with Germans. When I lived in Salt Lake City, one of the pizza places I used to go to was the _Rathskellar_ ( [Ratskeller - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratskeller) ) It was decorated with Germanic motifs, and pizza was their main dish. Pizza is possibly a German-derived word, in any case. Plus there is an equivalent dish in (German-speaking) Alsace, the _[Flammekueche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammekueche)_ . Which is quite tasty, I might add. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/111 "2021-02-28T17:52:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Pizza is possibly a German-derived word, in any case. Plus there is an equivalent dish in (German-speaking) Alsace, the _[Flammekueche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammekueche)_ . Which is quite tasty, I might add. An intriguing reply, raising two questions in my mind: 1.) How is _pizza_ a possibly German-derived word? 2.) Why have we never heard of _Flammekueche_ before? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/112 "2021-02-28T17:58:05Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 1.) How is _pizza_ a possibly German-derived word? There’s a debate about whether the word comes from the Greek _pita_ or the German _bizzo_ (bite). Both languages have historical enclaves in Italy. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/113 "2021-02-28T19:01:03Z")
Flammekueche is known, but not super well known. I know I came across a recipe for it within the last six months or so on some cooking magazine, and it shows up every once in awhile in my YouTube feed, which is cooking and music centered. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/114 "2021-02-28T19:55:00Z")
There’s a local foodstall that does _Flammekueche_, so I’m lucky that way. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2021, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/115 "2021-02-28T21:07:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Anchovies… Anchovies? You’ve got the wrong man. I spell my name Danger! ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/116 "2021-03-01T06:26:13Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > > [@MrDibble](#): > > > > Pizza is possibly a German-derived word, in any case. Plus there is an equivalent dish in (German-speaking) Alsace, the _[Flammekueche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flammekueche)_ . Which is quite tasty, I might add. > > An intriguing reply, raising two questions in my mind: > > 2.) Why have we never heard of _Flammekueche_ before? I had it in Germany. It’s delicious. My immediate reaction was, actually, “why isn’t this known in the US?” I saw frozen ones being sold at convenience stores as well. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/117 "2021-03-01T06:52:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > 2.) Why have we never heard of _Flammekueche_ before? You speak for yourself there. Or, nb on the French side they are known as tartes flambées. > [@MrDibble](#): > > There’s a local foodstall that does _Flammekueche_ , so I’m lucky that way. Here is the thing about Flammenküchen/tartes flambées. They are really thin. Therefore, if you eat one all by yourself, by the time you get to finishing it it will be cold. So, it is better to be in a group and just keep ordering them. That way you can have a few different toppings, too. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/118 "2021-03-01T11:34:38Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > You speak for yourself there. Or, nb on the French side they are known as tartes flambées. I do indeed. But I think that I’m correct in saying that _Flammekueche_ is not widely known in the US. Or _tartes flambees_. In a multicultural society that prizes creativity and originality (and in which restaurants are striving to come up with something different to set themselves apart), I find that surprising. I don’t even recall this coming up on any of those restaurant shows on TV, or in the Sunday supplements. Knowing the names I can pop them into a search engine, and it shows up on Wikipedia and Caroline’s Kitchen and other sites, but I wouldn’t have known to do that before this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/119 "2021-03-01T13:20:06Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I do indeed. But I think that I’m correct in saying that _Flammekueche_ is not widely known in the US. Or _tartes flambees_ On US menus they are often called flatbreads. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789/120 "2021-03-01T13:58:08Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > flatbreads. Flatbreads I’ve heard of (there’s a local restaurant mini-chain by that name). But I always assumed Flatbread was simply a fancy word for pizza. In fact, none of the flatbreads I’ve seen anywhere seem to be quite the same as the Flammekueche described by Wikipedia, which is " covered with _[fromage blanc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fromage_frais)_ or _[crème fraîche](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cr%C3%A8me_fra%C3%AEche)_ , thin-sliced onions and lardons". [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-red-baron-pizza-why-is-a-german-who-killed-people-the-mascot-of-a-pizza-company/933789.md?page=7)